Katherine was sitting in the balcony of her hotel room, drinking a vodka tonic and watching the sun rising on the horizon, sight that she never thought she would see after her time in literal hell. For some reason, she couldn't get herself to sleep. Firstly, as much as she didn't want to admit it, she hated going to sleep, because even though it was a time of the day that should be peaceful, it brought her nightmares that seemed way too real. Secondly, when she had actually tried to sleep, all she could think about was Damon, his icy blue eyes used to be so intense and profound, were now just just empty, cold, numb. It was bloody disturbing.
Why the hell could't she just go? He tortured her in her deathbed as frail human, for God's sake. Why did she care? One thing was effortlessly warning him that Sybil was a demon, other thing was actually risking her safety trying to help him. No one knew she was alive. Klaus and her other thousand enemies were completely clueless. Why risk that for Damon fucking Salvatore?
She didn't know. But she knew it had unsettled her seeing him so hopeless. She hated being human. She hated all that. She hated to care, but yet, that didn't stop her from the next thing she did - impulsively, totally atypical of her: she decided she would help Damon. And so she called one one the last people that could know she was alive, her longtime frenemy, Kol Mikaelson.
And there she was, in a dark and empty street, the place where Kol asked her to meet him. A friend from ages ago who, by his choice of meeting place, didn't seem to trust her very much. Besides the hostile setting, he had explained that she was supposed to come to the rendez-vous all alone. Kol was already there when she arrived and when he saw her coming, he laid eyes on her and her surroundings, trying to check if she was really alone.
–Katerina. -he walked up to her, took her hand placed a kiss in it, just as man greeted woman at the time they had met. -This is Davina. -he had his hand on the witch's back protectively.
-Nice to meet you. -Katherine said, greeting her.
-Same. —said Davina, staring at Katherine. There were so many myths surrounding her. She had been the only person who managed to escape from Klaus for 500 years, and, some time ago, she had woken Mikael and almost managed to get him to kill Klaus. Elijah had been head over heels for her, even leading him to betray Klaus. She was a legend to anyone who was around the life of the Originals. Davina didn't know exactly what was the nature of Kol's relationship with Katerina, but from what little he had said, they had a friendly relationship (mainly because if Klaus, Rebekah - and for a long time Elijah - were against her, he had to be on her side just to provoke them), but neither of them seemed to trust each other at all.
-So, it has been too long. What brings you here?
-I came to collect the favor that you own me. - she said in an overly sweet tone.
-What makes you think that I own you anything, love? - He simmered. She lifted one eyebrow.
-You own me way too much, Kol Miakelson. -she looked straight at him with a smile on her face.
-Well, tell me what is it that you need, Kat. Will see what you will have to do in return.
- I want your help, Davina. -she looked innocently right at the witch.
- No, no way. - Kol said abruptly looking at Davina in a protective way.
- It is a simple little thing, I wouldn't be crazy to ask you if it could put her in danger. -Katherine said to Kol. He gave a little laugh because he knew Katerina couldn't care less.
- What do you need? - Davina finally said, curiously.
- I need to contact someone. -she said
- Some sort of locator spell? - Davina interrupted. -Thats easy as giving vampires an aneurism -she laughed looking at Kol.
- I wish. -Katherine said. - I need to contact someone in the land of the dead.
- Who would that be? -Kol said, curiously.
- An old acquaintance.
- Katerina, you know that it is very dangerous for you, right? You could die. -Katherine was surprised by the teenager by calling her by her birth name. It had been way too long since someone other than the Originals had called her that way, and she hated it.
- I'm aware.
-A death wish is a little unusual for you, sweetheart. -Kol said. - What happened to the whole "I am a survivor" thingy?
- Could you do it? -she ignored Kol's comment and asked it straight to Davina.
- I don't know… I don't have enough power. It is a huge spell.
- I can get you as many witches as you need. Please. - Katherine said. - You are the only one I know that can do this spell.
- Why do you wanna do it? - Kol asked.
- I need some information. -she said.
- Must be a very important piece of info to be risking your life for. -he smirked but didn't ask anything else, because he knew she wouldn't tell him the truth anyways. After all it was Katerina Petrova.
- Could you it, my love? -Kol said looking at Davina who assented with her head.
- All right, Katerina. You may contact your dead mate. -Katherine smiled relieved. - If you return the favor. - he said finally. And of course Katherine expected that, there was no way Kol would do a favor like that for her without asking for something in return. -Kill Elena Gilbert as soon as she wakes up. And kill Stefan Salvatore too. -Kol said.
- Yeah, right. I will not kill Stefan and you know it.
- Oh, thats right. You're sweet on him. I remember that… How adorable. Elijah wouldn't be too happy about it tho. -Kol laughed sarcastically. - Im just messing with you. -he finally said. -But not 'bout Elena. I want her pretty little head as soon as she opens her eyes. She killed me after all, tit for tat.
- Got yourself a deal. -Katherine didn't remember the last time she agreed to a deal that so good for her as this one. If her planed worked, she would be able to contact the only person she knew that knew how to kill actually kill a syren. And, she would still get to kill her annoying little doppelgänger Elena, this deal was fucking perfect.
She didn't know exactly what to feel as she contemplated him from a safe distance, where he could not see her. It reminded her of the time where she used to fake her own death, and checked him over the years. He was heavenly beautiful. How his mint-colored eyes overflowed with emotion as he read a book - "The Portrait of Dorian Gray".
Katherine had read this book, a look time ago, when he was published in England in the end of the 1800s. She devoured it in a few hours or so. And when she did, she remembered drinking a few glasses of bourbon to calm her distressed mind. She identified with the protagonist. They both fell in love with the idea of eternal youth and beauty. It is true that in the beginning of it all, Katherine became a vampire with the sole purpose of escaping Klaus and his blood sacrifice - she did it to survive.
Nevertheless of the reason why she became a child of the night, it was undeniable that she fell deeply in love with immortality and the power it gave to her. Katherine had always been aware of how beautiful she was, and she took advantage from it thru all her life. At some point, when she looked at her image, she couldn't recognize the empathic, naive girl she used to be when she was really the age she appeared to be. She was completely deteriorated, her soul was destroyed. However, just like Dorian Gray, she was immortalized with that beautiful and pure image, the freshness that the end of adolescence gave to her angelic features. She wondered if anyone had made a portrait of Katerina, just like they made one of Dorian, showing his true self, reflecting his soul, how terrifying it would look like.
She saw Stefan reading this same book that she had read ages ago and had avoided re-reading so she wouldn't have the same thoughts that she had while reading it for the first time. But there was no use: that book still haunted her. While watching Stefan read it, she wondered if he thought as himself to be much like Dorian. In that case, was she just like Lord Henry, responsible for corrupting Dorian's innocence, showing him the pleasures of youth? She felt like Henry, and she felt like Dorian, but she couldn't see Stefan as neither of them. Probably the portrait of Stefan would be with little purity worn. Although he had moments of darkness, he always returned to being the shy and sensitive boy he used to be.
-Stefan. –she said, entering his field of vision.
-Elena. - he said extremely confused. She moved closer to him, waiting for the moment when he would recognize her. He had always done that quite easily. Stefan watched her, his eyes filled with tears. He didn't believe he was finally face to face with Elena Gilbert, less than 60 years before he really expected to. How? He was suddenly worried about Bonnie. Elena approached him. He pulled her into a hug. However, when he hugged her he smelled the familiar scent of cinnamon and cherries, mixed with something else, typical of Katherine. He was static for a second, letting himself get lost in her scent. However, after that quick little moment, he abruptly stepped back.
-Katherine. –he said with that voice of fear mixed with surprise. –How are you alive?
-Did you miss me?–she smirked with a penetrating look. He thought to himself he should have noticed right away it was her, by her curly hair and piercing eyes.
-How are you here?–he asked again, trying to figure out if she found a way to became a vampire once again.
-I always find a way to cheat death… you should know that by now. -she gave a little laugh.
-Good for you. But what exactly brings you here, to Mystic Falls?
-Huh… Maybe I missed you. - she said, quoting what she had already told him some years ago, when she returned to Mystic Falls. - Or maybe I just came back to haunt you. -she laughed.
-Yeah, that I can believe. - he couldn't say he was able to name exactly what he was feeling right now, by seeing her right in front of him. He was definitely surprised and somehow scared. All the times she came to Mystic Falls she brought a whole lot of trouble. -You're still human. -he noticed as the scent of her blood entered his nose.
-The cure's charming side effects apparently don't go away that easily. -he was somehow happy she was still human. Vampire Katherine was way too much for him to deal with right now.
-And what is it that you want here?-he asked again while trying to give her an annoyed look, but he seemed more at ease and worried than annoyed.
-So… Don't be jealous. -she laughed. - But you're not the first Salvatore I see. Damon is in trouble.
-Yes, with the syren. - Katherine knew Stefan was trying to help Damon, but he wasn't successful, and every time he came closer to anything, Sybil made Damon kill someone Stefan cared about just to keep him away.
-It's bad Stefan. He doesn't remember you and Elena. She is a hell's devil, she will destroy his soul. She's already doing it.
-I'm trying my best to help him. -Stefan finally said.
-Good for you I found a way to do so. - Katherine smirked and Stefan couldn't help but ask why the hell she would want to help Damon, specially when it came to someone as dangerous as this syren.